Help with bird ID - photos (1 Viewer)

Hi,

I just got back from a trip to South Africa, and there were some birds which I was unable to identify satisfactorily.

Here are the links to two of them:

These two were in the northeast part of the country, just east of Polokwane.

Spotted Flycatcher?
http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/image/132166245

No idea - someone suggested a Coucal
http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/image/132166252


There are also a couple of larks from the Kimberley area that I'd like confirmation on:

Rufous-naped Lark? (or Eastern Clapper Lark?)

http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/image/132105218

http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/image/132105207

Fawn-coloured Lark?

http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/image/132105203


and a Desert Cisticola?

http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/image/132103591





I have a lot more pictures from Ivy Safaris and Kruger Park to put up, and probably some more mystery birds. (In fact I know there is a sunbird that doesn't look like anything in the book). I'll post again when I get those up.

Feel free to peruse the rest of the gallery and correct me on any misidentifications.

Thanks!
Bryan

Is this a Neddicky?

http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/image/131981512


And here, I've made a whole album for mystery birds:

http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/samystery


And does anyone know what's going on with this swift?

http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/image/132144002
http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/image/132144003

after looking at the book a little more closely, i'm thinking the possible coucal may be a juvenile Burchell's Coucal. that would explain the dark eye & brown hood, no?

Brian,
Your "Coucal" might be a juvenile Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator.
Dave

disx said:

Hi,

There are also a couple of larks from the Kimberley area that I'd like confirmation on:

Rufous-naped Lark? (or Eastern Clapper Lark?)

http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/image/132105218

http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/image/132105207

Thanks!
Bryan

Click to expand...

Larks are tricky at the best of times. The Rufous-naped Lark characteristically calls from a low elevation such as a bush or the top of an anthill. Sasol describes the call as "a frequently repeated, trisyllabic 'tree, tree-loo', which is not a bad approximation. When you hear it it is a very distinctive call, and by far the best identification characteristic. If you heard that call, you can be sure of your identification. I've attached a picture of a calling Rufous-naped Lark from the Linyanti region in NW Botswana, but the bird's plumage varies regionally.
Hope this helps,
Dave
Dave

thanks Dave. we heard both Rufous-naped Larks and Eastern Clapper Larks calling at this location, though I don't remember if these particular birds were calling. i'll have to ask some of the people with me if they recall.

ah, yes, you're exactly right. juv greater honeyguide looks exactly like it in the book. i thought it was too small and just didn't look right for a coucal. thanks for clearing that up.

thanks for checking out my pictures. to anyone else who wants to help, here is the list, re-summarized:

Fawn-coloured Lark?
http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/image/132105203

Desert Cisticola?
http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/image/132103591

Neddicky?
http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/image/131981512

Little Swift - weird plumage? or is that just a breeding thing they don't depict in the book?
http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/image/132144002
http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/image/132144003



and then i've got an album of stuff here (just a little over one page of pics):

http://www.pbase.com/disx0d/samystery&page=1

most of them have my tentative identification, and where they were seen.